350 Nursing Bullets: Maternity and Newborn Nursing Reviewer

Increase your knowledge and confidence for the Nursing Licensure Exam (NLE) or NCLEX with these easy to digest information regarding the concepts of Maternal and Child Health Nursing. These bullets cover topic about labor, pregnancy, nursing care of the newborn, developmental stages and many more!

To help a mother break the suction of her breastfeeding infant, the nurse should teach her to insert a finger at the corner of the infant’s mouth.

Cow’s milk shouldn’t be given to infants younger than age one (1) because it has a low linoleic acid content and its protein is difficult for infants to digest.

A woman who is breastfeeding should rub a mild emollient cream or a few drops of breast milk (or colostrum) on the nipples after each feeding. She should let the breasts air-dry to prevent them from cracking.

To elicit Moro’s reflex, the nurse holds the neonate in both hands and suddenly, but gently, drops the neonate’s head backward. Normally, the neonate abducts and extends all extremities bilaterally and symmetrically, forms a C shape with the thumb and forefinger, and first adducts and then flexes the extremities.

Whenever an infant is being put down to sleep, the parent or caregiver should position the infant on the back. Remember the mnemonic “back to sleep.”

The percentage of water in a neonate’s body is about 78% to 80%.

To perform nasotracheal suctioning in an infant, the nurse positions the infant with his neck slightly hyperextended in a “sniffing” position, with his chin up and his head tilted back slightly.

After birth, the neonate’s umbilical cord is tied 1″ (2.5 cm) from the abdominal wall with a cotton cord, plastic clamp, or rubber band.

When teaching parents to provide umbilical cord care, the nurse should teach them to clean the umbilical area with a cotton ball saturated with alcohol after every diaper change to prevent infection and promote drying.

Cutis marmorata is mottling or purple discoloration of the skin. It’s a transient vasomotor response that occurs primarily in the arms and legs of infants who are exposed to cold.

The first immunization for a neonate is the hepatitis B vaccine, which is administered in the nursery shortly after birth.

Infants with Down syndrome typically have marked hypotonia, floppiness, slanted eyes, excess skin on the back of the neck, flattened bridge of the nose, flat facial features, spade-like hands, short and broad feet, small male genitalia, absence of Moro’s reflex, and a simian crease on the hands.

The nurse instills erythromycin in a neonate’s eyes primarily to prevent blindness caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Preterm neonates or neonates who can’t maintain a skin temperature of at least 97.6° F (36.4° C) should receive care in an incubator (Isolette) or a radiant warmer. In a radiant warmer, a heat-sensitive probe taped to the neonate’s skin activates the heater unit automatically to maintain the desired temperature.

Neonates who are delivered by cesarean birth have a higher incidence of respiratory distress syndrome.

When providing phototherapy to a neonate, the nurse should cover the neonate’s eyes and genital area.

The narcotic antagonist naloxone (Narcan) may be given to a neonate to correct respiratory depression caused by narcotic administration to the mother during labor.

In a neonate, symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome include expiratory grunting or whining, sandpaper breath sounds, and seesaw retractions.

Rubella infection in a pregnant patient, especially during the first trimester, can lead to spontaneous abortion or stillbirth as well as fetal cardiac and other birth defects.

The Apgar score is used to assess the neonate’s vital functions. It’s obtained at 1 minute and 5 minutes after delivery. The score is based on respiratory effort, heart rate, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color.

Fetal embodiment is a maternal developmental task that occurs in the second trimester. During this stage, the mother may complain that she never gets to sleep because the fetus always gives her a thump when she tries.

Mongolian spots can range from brown to blue. Their color depends on how close melanocytes are to the surface of the skin. They most commonly appear as patches across the sacrum, buttocks, and legs.

Mongolian spots are common in non-white infants and usually disappear by age 2 to 3 years.

Vernix caseosa is a cheeselike substance that covers and protects the fetus’s skin in utero. It may be rubbed into the neonate’s skin or washed away in one or two baths.

Caput succedaneum is edema that develops in and under the fetal scalp during labor and delivery. It resolves spontaneously and presents no danger to the neonate. The edema doesn’t cross the suture line.

Nevus flammeus, or port-wine stain, is a diffuse pink to dark bluish red lesion on a neonate’s face or neck.

The Guthrie test (a screening test for phenylketonuria) is most reliable if it’s done between the second and sixth days after birth and is performed after the neonate has ingested protein.

To assess coordination of sucking and swallowing, the nurse should observe the neonate’s first breastfeeding or sterile water bottle-feeding.

To establish a milk supply pattern, the mother should breast-feed her infant at least every 4 hours. During the first month, she should breast-feed 8 to 12 times daily (demand feeding).

To avoid contact with blood and other body fluids, the nurse should wear gloves when handling the neonate until after the first bath is given.

If a breast-fed infant is content, has good skin turgor, an adequate number of wet diapers, and normal weight gain, the mother’s milk supply is assumed to be adequate.

In the supine position, a pregnant patient’s enlarged uterus impairs venous return from the lower half of the body to the heart, resulting in supine hypotensive syndrome, or inferior vena cava syndrome.

A pregnant woman who has hyperemesis gravidarum may require hospitalization to treat dehydration and starvation.

Diaphragmatic hernia is one of the most urgent neonatal surgical emergencies. By compressing and displacing the lungs and heart, this disorder can cause respiratory distress shortly after birth.

Common complications of early pregnancy (up to 20 weeks gestation) include fetal loss and serious threats to maternal health.

If the neonate is stable, the mother should be allowed to breast-feed within the neonate’s first hour of life.

The nurse should check the neonate’s temperature every 1 to 2 hours until it’s maintained within normal limits.
At birth, a neonate normally weighs 5 to 9 lb (2 to 4 kg), measures 18″ to 22″ (45.5 to 56 cm) in length, has a head circumference of 13½” to 14″ (34 to 35.5 cm), and has a chest circumference that’s 1″ (2.5 cm) less than the head circumference.

In the neonate, temperature normally ranges from 98° to 99° F (36.7° to 37.2° C), apical pulse rate averages 120 to 160 beats/minute, and respirations are 40 to 60 breaths/minute.

The diamond-shaped anterior fontanel usually closes between ages 12 and 18 months. The triangular posterior fontanel usually closes by age 2 months.

In the neonate, a straight spine is normal. A tuft of hair over the spine is an abnormal finding.

Prostaglandin gel may be applied to the vagina or cervix to ripen an unfavorable cervix before labor induction with oxytocin (Pitocin).

Supernumerary nipples are occasionally seen on neonates. They usually appear along a line that runs from each axilla, through the normal nipple area, and to the groin.

Meconium is a material that collects in the fetus’s intestines and forms the neonate’s first feces, which are black and tarry.

The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid during labor indicates possible fetal distress and the need to evaluate the neonate for meconium aspiration.

To assess a neonate’s rooting reflex, the nurse touches a finger to the cheek or the corner of the mouth. Normally, the neonate turns his head toward the stimulus, opens his mouth, and searches for the stimulus.

Harlequin sign is present when a neonate who is lying on his side appears red on the dependent side and pale on the upper side.

Because of the anti-insulin effects of placental hormones, insulin requirements increase during the third trimester.

Gestational age can be estimated by ultrasound measurement of maternal abdominal circumference, fetal femur length, and fetal head size. These measurements are most accurate between 12 and 18 weeks gestation.

Skeletal system abnormalities and ventricular septal defects are the most common disorders of infants who are born to diabetic women. The incidence of congenital malformation is three times higher in these infants than in those born to nondiabetic women.

Skeletal system abnormalities and ventricular septal defects are the most common disorders of infants who are born to diabetic women. The incidence of congenital malformation is three times higher in these infants than in those born to nondiabetic women.

The patient with preeclampsia usually has puffiness around the eyes or edema in the hands (for example, “I can’t put my wedding ring on.”).

Kegel exercises require contraction and relaxation of the perineal muscles. These exercises help strengthen pelvic muscles and improve urine control in postpartum patients.

The preterm neonate may require gavage feedings because of a weak sucking reflex, uncoordinated sucking, or respiratory distress.

Acrocyanosis (blueness and coolness of the arms and legs) is normal in neonates because of their immature peripheral circulatory system.

To prevent ophthalmia neonatorum (a severe eye infection caused by maternal gonorrhea), the nurse may administer one of three drugs, as prescribed, in the neonate’s eyes: tetracycline, silver nitrate, or erythromycin.
Neonatal testing for phenylketonuria is mandatory in most states.

The nurse should place the neonate in a 30-degree Trendelenburg position to facilitate mucus drainage.

The nurse may suction the neonate’s nose and mouth as needed with a bulb syringe or suction trap.

To prevent heat loss, the nurse should place the neonate under a radiant warmer during suctioning and initial delivery-room care, and then wrap the neonate in a warmed blanket for transport to the nursery.

The umbilical cord normally has two arteries and one vein.

When providing care, the nurse should expose only one part of an infant’s body at a time.

Lightening is settling of the fetal head into the brim of the pelvis.

Prenatal Care

In a full-term neonate, skin creases appear over two-thirds of the neonate’s feet. Preterm neonates have heel creases that cover less than two-thirds of the feet.

At 20 weeks gestation, the fundus is at the level of the umbilicus.

At 36 weeks gestation, the fundus is at the lower border of the rib cage.

A premature neonate is one born before the end of the 37th week of gestation.

Gravida is the number of pregnancies a woman has had, regardless of outcome.

Para is the number of pregnancies that reached viability, regardless of whether the fetus was delivered alive or stillborn. A fetus is considered viable at 20 weeks gestation.

A multipara is a woman who has had two or more pregnancies that progressed to viability, regardless of whether the offspring were alive at birth.

Quickening, a presumptive sign of pregnancy, occurs between 16 and 19 weeks gestation.

Goodell’s sign is softening of the cervix.

Quickening, a presumptive sign of pregnancy, occurs between 16 and 19 weeks gestation.

Ovulation ceases during pregnancy.

Immunity to rubella can be measured by a hemagglutination inhibition test (rubella titer). This test identifies exposure to rubella infection and determines susceptibility in pregnant women. In a woman, a titer greater than 1:8 indicates immunity.

To estimate the date of delivery using Naegele’s rule, the nurse counts backward three (3) months from the first day of the last menstrual period and then adds seven (7) days to this date.

During pregnancy, weight gain averages 25 to 30 lb (11 to 13.5 kg).

Rubella has a teratogenic effect on the fetus during the first trimester. It produces abnormalities in up to 40% of cases without interrupting the pregnancy.

At 12 weeks gestation, the fundus should be at the top of the symphysis pubis.

Chloasma, the mask of pregnancy, is pigmentation of a circumscribed area of skin (usually over the bridge of the nose and cheeks) that occurs in some pregnant women.

The gynecoid pelvis is most ideal for delivery. Other types include platypelloid (flat), anthropoid (ape-like), and android (malelike).

Pregnant women should be advised that there is no safe level of alcohol intake.

Linea nigra, a dark line that extends from the umbilicus to the mons pubis, commonly appears during pregnancy and disappears after pregnancy.

Culdoscopy is visualization of the pelvic organs through the posterior vaginal fornix.

The nurse should teach a pregnant vegetarian to obtain protein from alternative sources, such as nuts, soybeans, and legumes.

The nurse should instruct a pregnant patient to take only prescribed prenatal vitamins because over-the-counter high-potency vitamins may harm the fetus.

Pica is a craving to eat nonfood items, such as dirt, crayons, chalk, glue, starch, or hair. It may occur during pregnancy and can endanger the fetus.

A pregnant patient should take folic acid because this nutrient is required for rapid cell division.

A woman who is taking clomiphene (Clomid) to induce ovulation should be informed of the possibility of multiple births with this drug.

During the first trimester, a pregnant woman should avoid all drugs unless doing so would adversely affect her health.

The Food and Drug Administration has established the following five categories of drugs based on their potential for causing birth defects: A, no evidence of risk; B, no risk found in animals, but no studies have been done in women; C, animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but the drug may be beneficial to women despite the potential risk; D, evidence of risk, but its benefits may outweigh its risks; and X, fetal anomalies noted, and the risks clearly outweigh the potential benefits.

A probable sign of pregnancy, McDonald’s sign is characterized by an ease in flexing the body of the uterus against the cervix.

Amenorrhea is a probable sign of pregnancy.

A pregnant woman’s partner should avoid introducing air into the vagina during oral sex because of the possibility of air embolism.

The administration of folic acid during the early stages of gestation may prevent neural tube defects.

A clinical manifestation of a prolapsed umbilical cord is variable decelerations.

The nurse should keep the sac of meningomyelocele moist with normal saline solution.

If fundal height is at least 2 cm less than expected, the cause may be growth retardation, missed abortion, transverse lie, or false pregnancy.

Fundal height that exceeds expectations by more than 2 cm may be caused by multiple gestation, polyhydramnios, uterine myomata, or a large baby.

A major developmental task for a woman during the first trimester of pregnancy is accepting the pregnancy.

A pregnant patient with vaginal bleeding shouldn’t have a pelvic examination.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the finding of glucose in the urine may be related to the increased shunting of glucose to the developing placenta, without a corresponding increase in the reabsorption capability of the kidneys.

A patient who has premature rupture of the membranes is at significant risk for infection if labor doesn’t begin within 24 hours.

Infants of diabetic mothers are susceptible to macrosomia as a result of increased insulin production in the fetus.

To prevent heat loss in the neonate, the nurse should bathe one part of his body at a time and keep the rest of the body covered.

A patient who has a cesarean delivery is at greater risk for infection than the patient who gives birth vaginally.

The occurrence of thrush in the neonate is probably caused by contact with the organism during delivery through the birth canal.

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein is detectable at 7 weeks of gestation and peaks in the third trimester. High levels detected between the 16th and 18th weeks are associated with neural tube defects. Low levels are associated with Down syndrome.

An arrest of descent occurs when the fetus doesn’t descend through the pelvic cavity during labor. It’s commonly associated with cephalopelvic disproportion, and cesarean delivery may be required.

A late sign of preeclampsia is epigastric pain as a result of severe liver edema.

In the patient with preeclampsia, blood pressure returns to normal during the puerperal period.

To obtain an estriol level, urine is collected for 24 hours.

An estriol level is used to assess fetal well-being and maternal renal functioning as well as to monitor a pregnancy that’s complicated by diabetes.

The period between contractions is referred to as the interval, or resting phase. During this phase, the uterus and placenta fill with blood and allow for the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients.

In a patient who has hypertonic contractions, the uterus doesn’t have an opportunity to relax and there is no interval between contractions. As a result, the fetus may experience hypoxia or rapid delivery may occur.

Two qualities of the myometrium are elasticity, which allows it to stretch yet maintain its tone, and contractility, which allows it to shorten and lengthen in a synchronized pattern.

During crowning, the presenting part of the fetus remains visible during the interval between contractions.

Uterine atony is failure of the uterus to remain firmly contracted.

The major cause of uterine atony is a full bladder.

If the mother wishes to breast-feed, the neonate should be nursed as soon as possible after delivery.

A smacking sound, milk dripping from the side of the mouth, and sucking noises all indicate improper placement of the infant’s mouth over the nipple.

Before feeding is initiated, an infant should be burped to expel air from the stomach.

Most authorities strongly encourage the continuation of breastfeeding on both the affected and the unaffected breast of patients with mastitis.

Neonates are nearsighted and focus on items that are held 10″ to 12″ (25 to 30.5 cm) away.

In a neonate, low-set ears are associated with chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

Meconium is usually passed in the first 24 hours; however, passage may take up to 72 hours.

Obstetric data can be described by using the F/TPAL system:
F/T: Full-term delivery at 38 weeks or longer
P: Preterm delivery between 20 and 37 weeks
A: Abortion or loss of fetus before 20 weeks
L: Number of children living (if a child has died, further explanation is needed to clarify the discrepancy in numbers).

Parity doesn’t refer to the number of infants delivered, only the number of deliveries.

Women who are carrying more than one fetus should be encouraged to gain 35 to 45 lb (15.5 to 20.5 kg) during pregnancy.

The recommended amount of iron supplement for the pregnant patient is 30 to 60 mg daily.

Drinking six alcoholic beverages a day or a single episode of binge drinking in the first trimester can cause fetal alcohol syndrome.
Chorionic villus sampling is performed at 8 to 12 weeks of pregnancy for early identification of genetic defects.

In percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, a blood sample is obtained from the umbilical cord to detect anemia, genetic defects, and blood incompatibility as well as to assess the need for blood transfusions.

Hemodilution of pregnancy is the increase in blood volume that occurs during pregnancy. The increased volume consists of plasma and causes an imbalance between the ratio of red blood cells to plasma and a resultant decrease in hematocrit.

Visualization in pregnancy is a process in which the mother imagines what the child she’s carrying is like and becomes acquainted with it.

Mean arterial pressure of greater than 100 mm Hg after 20 weeks of pregnancy is considered hypertension.

Laden’s sign, an early indication of pregnancy, causes softening of a spot on the anterior portion of the uterus, just above the uterocervical juncture.

During pregnancy, the abdominal line from the symphysis pubis to the umbilicus changes from linea alba to linea nigra.

The treatment for supine hypotension syndrome (a condition that sometimes occurs in pregnancy) is to have the patient lie on her left side.

A contributing factor in dependent edema in the pregnant patient is the increase of femoral venous pressure from 10 mm Hg (normal) to 18 mm Hg (high).

Hyperpigmentation of the pregnant patient’s face, formerly called chloasma and now referred to as melasma, fades after delivery.

The hormone relaxin, which is secreted first by the corpus luteum and later by the placenta, relaxes the connective tissue and cartilage of the symphysis pubis and the sacroiliac joint to facilitate passage of the fetus during delivery.

Progesterone maintains the integrity of the pregnancy by inhibiting uterine motility.

Labor and Delivery

During labor, to relieve supine hypotension manifested by nausea and vomiting and paleness, turn the patient on her left side.

During the transition phase of the first stage of labor, the cervix is dilated 8 to 10 cm and contractions usually occur 2 to 3 minutes apart and last for 60 seconds.

The first stage of labor begins with the onset of labor and ends with full cervical dilation at 10 cm.

The second stage of labor begins with full cervical dilation and ends with the neonate’s birth.

The third stage of labor begins after the neonate’s birth and ends with expulsion of the placenta.

The fourth stage of labor (postpartum stabilization) lasts up to 4 hours after the placenta is delivered. This time is needed to stabilize the mother’s physical and emotional state after the stress of childbirth.

When used to describe the degree of fetal descent during labor, floating means the presenting part is not engaged in the pelvic inlet, but is freely movable (ballotable) above the pelvic inlet.

When used to describe the degree of fetal descent, engagement means when the largest diameter of the presenting part has passed through the pelvic inlet.

Fetal stations indicate the location of the presenting part in relation to the ischial spine. It’s described as –1, –2, –3, –4, or –5 to indicate the number of centimeters above the level of the ischial spine; station –5 is at the pelvic inlet.

Fetal stations are also described as +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5 to indicate the number of centimeters it is below the level of the ischial spine; station 0 is at the level of the ischial spine.

Any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be considered a complication until proven otherwise.

During delivery, if the umbilical cord can’t be loosened and slipped from around the neonate’s neck, it should be clamped with two clamps and cut between the clamps.

During the first stage of labor, the side-lying position usually provides the greatest degree of comfort, although the patient may assume any comfortable position.

Fetal stations are also described as +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5 to indicate the number of centimeters it is below the level of the ischial spine; station 0 is at the level of the ischial spine.

Fetal stations indicate the location of the presenting part in relation to the ischial spine. It’s described as –1, –2, –3, –4, or –5 to indicate the number of centimeters above the level of the ischial spine; station –5 is at the pelvic inlet.

When used to describe the degree of fetal descent, engagement means when the largest diameter of the presenting part has passed through the pelvic inlet.

The three phases of a uterine contraction are increment, acme, and decrement.

The intensity of a labor contraction can be assessed by the indentability of the uterine wall at the contraction’s peak. Intensity is graded as mild (uterine muscle is somewhat tense), moderate (uterine muscle is moderately tense), or strong (uterine muscle is boardlike).

The frequency of uterine contractions, which is measured in minutes, is the time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.

Before internal fetal monitoring can be performed, a pregnant patient’s cervix must be dilated at least 2 cm, the amniotic membranes must be ruptured, and the presenting part of the fetus (scalp or buttocks) must be at station –1 or lower, so that a small electrode can be attached.

Teenage mothers are more likely to have low-birth-weight neonates because they seek prenatal care late in pregnancy (as a result of denial) and are more likely than older mothers to have nutritional deficiencies.

The narrowest diameter of the pelvic inlet is the anteroposterior (diagonal conjugate).

During labor, the resting phase between contractions is at least 30 seconds.

The length of the uterus increases from 2½” (6.3 cm) before pregnancy to 12½” (32 cm) at term.

To estimate the true conjugate (the smallest inlet measurement of the pelvis), deduct 1.5 cm from the diagonal conjugate (usually 12 cm). A true conjugate of 10.5 cm enables the fetal head (usually 10 cm) to pass.

The smallest outlet measurement of the pelvis is the intertuberous diameter, which is the transverse diameter between the ischial tuberosities.

Electronic fetal monitoring is used to assess fetal well-being during labor. If compromised fetal status is suspected, fetal blood pH may be evaluated by obtaining a scalp sample.

In an emergency delivery, enough pressure should be applied to the emerging fetus’s head to guide the descent and prevent a rapid change in pressure within the molded fetal skull.

Massaging the uterus helps to stimulate contractions after the placenta is delivered.

When a patient is admitted to the unit in active labor, the nurse’s first action is to listen for fetal heart tones.

Nitrazine paper is used to test the pH of vaginal discharge to determine the presence of amniotic fluid.

A pregnant patient normally gains 2 to 5 lb (1 to 2.5 kg) during the first trimester and slightly less than 1 lb (0.5 kg) per week during the last two trimesters.

Precipitate labor lasts for approximately 3 hours and ends with delivery of the neonate.

As emergency treatment for excessive uterine bleeding, 0.2 mg of methylergonovine (Methergine) is injected I.V. over 1 minute while the patient’s blood pressure and uterine contractions are monitored.

Braxton Hicks contractions are usually felt in the abdomen and don’t cause cervical change. True labor contractions are felt in the front of the abdomen and back and lead to progressive cervical dilation and effacement.

If a fetus has late decelerations (a sign of fetal hypoxia), the nurse should instruct the mother to lie on her left side and then administer 8 to 10 L of oxygen per minute by mask or cannula. The nurse should notify the physician. The side-lying position removes pressure on the inferior vena cava.

Oxytocin (Pitocin) promotes lactation and uterine contractions.

Because oxytocin (Pitocin) stimulates powerful uterine contractions during labor, it must be administered under close observation to help prevent maternal and fetal distress.

Molding is the process by which the fetal head changes shape to facilitate movement through the birth canal.

If a woman suddenly becomes hypotensive during labor, the nurse should increase the infusion rate of I.V. fluids as prescribed.

During fetal heart monitoring, early deceleration is caused by compression of the head during labor.

After the placenta is delivered, the nurse may add oxytocin (Pitocin) to the patient’s I.V. solution, as prescribed, to promote postpartum involution of the uterus and stimulate lactation.

If needed, cervical suturing is usually done between 14 and 18 weeks gestation to reinforce an incompetent cervix and maintain pregnancy. The suturing is typically removed by 35 weeks gestation.

The Food and Drug Administration has established the following five categories of drugs based on their potential for causing birth defects: A, no evidence of risk; B, no risk found in animals, but no studies have been done in women; C, animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but the drug may be beneficial to women despite the potential risk; D, evidence of risk, but its benefits may outweigh its risks; and X, fetal anomalies noted, and the risks clearly outweigh the potential benefits.

To prevent her from developing Rh antibodies, an Rh-negative primigravida should receive Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM) after delivering an Rh-positive neonate.

When informed that a patient’s amniotic membrane has broken, the nurse should check fetal heart tones and then maternal vital signs.

Crowning is the appearance of the fetus’s head when its largest diameter is encircled by the vulvovaginal ring.

Subinvolution may occur if the bladder is distended after delivery.

For an extramural delivery (one that takes place outside of a normal delivery center), the priorities for care of the neonate include maintaining a patent airway, supporting efforts to breathe, monitoring vital signs, and maintaining adequate body temperature.

The administration of oxytocin (Pitocin) is stopped if the contractions are 90 seconds or longer.

If a pregnant patient’s rubella titer is less than 1:8, she should be immunized after delivery.

During the transition phase of labor, the woman usually is irritable and restless.

Maternal hypotension is a complication of spinal block.

The mother’s Rh factor should be determined before an amniocentesis is performed.

With early maternal age, cephalopelvic disproportion commonly occurs.

Spontaneous rupture of the membranes increases the risk of a prolapsed umbilical cord.

Postpartum Care

Lochia rubra is the vaginal discharge of almost pure blood that occurs during the first few days after childbirth.

Lochia serosa is the serous vaginal discharge that occurs 4 to 7 days after childbirth.

Lochia alba is the vaginal discharge of decreased blood and increased leukocytes that’s the final stage of lochia. It occurs 7 to 10 days after childbirth.

After delivery, a multiparous woman is more susceptible to bleeding than a primiparous woman because her uterine muscles may be overstretched and may not contract efficiently.

The nurse should suggest ambulation to a postpartum patient who has gas pain and flatulence.

Methylergonovine (Methergine) is an oxytocic agent used to prevent and treat postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony or subinvolution.

After a stillbirth, the mother should be allowed to hold the neonate to help her come to terms with the death.

If a woman receives a spinal block before delivery, the nurse should monitor the patient’s blood pressure closely.

A postpartum patient may resume sexual intercourse after the perineal or uterine wounds heal (usually within 4 weeks after delivery).

If a pregnant patient’s test results are negative for glucose but positive for acetone, the nurse should assess the patient’s diet for inadequate caloric intake.

Direct antiglobulin (direct Coombs’) test is used to detect maternal antibodies attached to red blood cells in the neonate.

Before discharging a patient who has had an abortion, the nurse should instruct her to report bright red clots, bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days, or signs of infection, such as a temperature of greater than 100° F (37.8° C), foul-smelling vaginal discharge, severe uterine cramping, nausea, or vomiting.

The fundus of a postpartum patient is massaged to stimulate contraction of the uterus and prevent hemorrhage.

Laceration of the vagina, cervix, or perineum produces bright red bleeding that often comes in spurts. The bleeding is continuous, even when the fundus is firm.

To avoid puncturing the placenta, a vaginal examination should not be performed on a pregnant patient who is bleeding.

A patient who has postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony should be given oxytocin as prescribed.

After delivery, if the fundus is boggy and deviated to the right side, the patient should empty her bladder.

In the early postpartum period, the fundus should be midline at the umbilicus.

Pregnancy Complications

A habitual aborter is a woman who has had three or more consecutive spontaneous abortions.

Threatened abortion occurs when bleeding is present without cervical dilation.

A complete abortion occurs when all products of conception are expelled.

Hydramnios (polyhydramnios) is excessive amniotic fluid of more than 2,000 ml in the third trimester.

In an incomplete abortion, the fetus is expelled, but parts of the placenta and membrane remain in the uterus.

When a pregnant patient has undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, vaginal examination should be avoided until ultrasonography rules out placenta previa.

A patient with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy commonly has sharp pain in the lower abdomen, with spotting and cramping. She may have abdominal rigidity; rapid, shallow respirations; tachycardia; and shock.

A 16-year-old girl who is pregnant is at risk for having a low-birth-weight neonate.

A rubella vaccine shouldn’t be given to a pregnant woman. The vaccine can be administered after delivery, but the patient should be instructed to avoid becoming pregnant for 3 months.

Nonstress Test

A nonstress test is considered nonreactive (positive) if fewer than two fetal heart rate accelerations of at least 15 beats/minute occur in 20 minutes.

A nonstress test is considered reactive (negative) if two or more fetal heart rate accelerations of 15 beats/minute above baseline occur in 20 minutes.

A nonstress test is usually performed to assess fetal well-being in a pregnant patient with a prolonged pregnancy (42 weeks or more), diabetes, a history of poor pregnancy outcomes, or pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Placental Abnormalities

Placenta previa is abnormally low implantation of the placenta so that it encroaches on or covers the cervical os.

In partial (incomplete or marginal) placenta previa, the placenta covers only a portion of the cervical os.

Abruptio placentae is premature separation of a normally implanted placenta. It may be partial or complete, and usually causes abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and a boardlike abdomen.

In placenta previa, bleeding is painless and seldom fatal on the first occasion, but it becomes heavier with each subsequent episode.

Nursing interventions for a patient with placenta previa include positioning the patient on her left side for maximum fetal perfusion, monitoring fetal heart tones, and administering I.V. fluids and oxygen, as ordered.

Treatment for abruptio placentae is usually immediate cesarean delivery.

Because a major role of the placenta is to function as a fetal lung, any condition that interrupts normal blood flow to or from the placenta increases fetal partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide and decreases fetal pH.

Preeclampsia

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a leading cause of maternal death in the United States.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia) is an increase in blood pressure of 30/15 mm Hg over baseline or blood pressure of 140/95 mmHg on two occasions at least 6 hours apart accompanied by edema and albuminuria after 20 weeks gestation.

The classic triad of symptoms of preeclampsia are hypertension, edema, and proteinuria. Additional symptoms of severe preeclampsia include hyperreflexia, cerebral and vision disturbances, and epigastric pain.

After administering magnesium sulfate to a pregnant patient for hypertension or preterm labor, the nurse should monitor the respiratory rate and deep tendon reflexes.

Eclampsia is the occurrence of seizures that aren’t caused by a cerebral disorder in a patient who has pregnancy-induced hypertension.

In a patient with preeclampsia, epigastric pain is a late symptom and requires immediate medical intervention.

In a pregnant patient, preeclampsia may progress to eclampsia, which is characterized by seizures and may lead to coma.

Contraceptives

The failure rate of a contraceptive is determined by the experience of 100 women for 1 year. It’s expressed as pregnancies per 100 woman-years.

Before providing a specimen for a sperm count, the patient should avoid ejaculation for 48 to 72 hours.

If a patient misses two consecutive menstrual periods while taking an oral contraceptive, she should discontinue the contraceptive and take a pregnancy test.

If a patient who is taking an oral contraceptive misses a dose, she should take the pill as soon as she remembers or take two at the next scheduled interval and continue with the normal schedule.

If a patient who is taking an oral contraceptive misses two consecutive doses, she should double the dose for 2 days and then resume her normal schedule. She also should use an additional birth control method for 1 week.